Patents by Inventor Kimihiro Koshikawa

Kimihiro Koshikawa has filed for patents to protect the following inventions. This listing includes patent applications that are pending as well as patents that have already been granted by the United States Patent and Trademark Office (USPTO).

  • Patent number: 11186250
    Abstract: Provided is an airbag configured so that, in the inflated state thereof, a recess is formed in a chest restraint area in the passenger facing surface of the airbag, and the portion of the airbag other than the recess has a large inflation thickness. A driver-side airbag 1 is formed by sewing a front panel 2 and a rear panel 3 together. The rear panel 3 is provided with a left tuck portion 12 which extends from the upper left to the lower left, and a right tuck portion 11 which extends from the upper right to the lower right. The tuck portions 11 and 12 increase the inflation thickness of the driver-side airbag 1. A recess 6 is formed in a passenger chest restraint area in the driver-side airbag 1 by a tether 20.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 21, 2018
    Date of Patent: November 30, 2021
    Assignee: JOYSON SAFETY SYSTEMS JAPAN K.K.
    Inventors: Kimihiro Koshikawa, Shinichi Takeuchi, Ryo Hayakawa
  • Publication number: 20200282946
    Abstract: Provided is an airbag configured so that, in the inflated state thereof, a recess is formed in a chest restraint area in the passenger facing surface of the airbag, and the portion of the airbag other than the recess has a large inflation thickness. A driver-side airbag 1 is formed by sewing a front panel 2 and a rear panel 3 together. The rear panel 3 is provided with a left tuck portion 12 which extends from the upper left to the lower left, and a right tuck portion 11 which extends from the upper right to the lower right. The tuck portions 11 and 12 increase the inflation thickness of the driver-side airbag 1. A recess 6 is formed in a passenger chest restraint area in the driver-side airbag 1 by a tether 20.
    Type: Application
    Filed: August 21, 2018
    Publication date: September 10, 2020
    Applicant: JOYSON SAFETY SYSTEMS JAPAN K.K.
    Inventors: Kimihiro KOSHIKAWA, Shinichi TAKEUCHI, Ryo HAYAKAWA
  • Patent number: 10647284
    Abstract: A driver airbag 1 is formed by sewing a front panel 2 and a rear panel 3 together. The rear panel 3 has a horizontal first tuck portion 21, a second tuck portion 22 extending from a right upper side toward a left lower side, and a third tuck portion 23 extending from a left upper side toward a right lower side. The tuck portion 22 and the tuck portion 23 intersect in an upper part of the rear panel 3. Since most of the second and third tuck portions 22, 23 are located in an upper half section of the rear panel 3, the upper part of the driver airbag 1 has a larger thickness than that of a lower part when the driver airbag 1 is inflated completely.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 8, 2018
    Date of Patent: May 12, 2020
    Assignee: JOYSON SAFETY SYSTEMS JAPAN K.K.
    Inventors: Kimihiro Koshikawa, Teruhiko Hiruta, Hiromichi Yoshikawa
  • Publication number: 20180201219
    Abstract: A driver airbag 1 is formed by sewing a front panel 2 and a rear panel 3 together. The rear panel 3 has a horizontal first tuck portion 21, a second tuck portion 22 extending from a right upper side toward a left lower side, and a third tuck portion 23 extending from a left upper side toward a right lower side. The tuck portion 22 and the tuck portion 23 intersect in an upper part of the rear panel 3. Since most of the second and third tuck portions 22, 23 are located in an upper half section of the rear panel 3, the upper part of the driver airbag 1 has a larger thickness than that of a lower part when the driver airbag 1 is inflated completely.
    Type: Application
    Filed: January 8, 2018
    Publication date: July 19, 2018
    Applicant: TAKATA CORPORATION
    Inventors: Kimihiro KOSHIKAWA, Teruhiko HIRUTA, Hiromichi YOSHIKAWA
  • Patent number: 9434345
    Abstract: An airbag comprises an airbag main body formed into a bag by a front panel and a rear panel, a vent hole formed on the rear panel, a vent cover that is attached to an outer surface of the rear panel and opens and closes the vent hole, a tether provided on the vent cover, a vent patch attached to an inner surface of the rear panel, and a tether cover attached to the inner surface of the rear panel, overlapping the vent patch, wherein: the tether is pulled from a slit formed near the vent hole of the rear panel into the interior of the airbag main body and then inserted through an area between the vent patch and the tether cover.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 10, 2013
    Date of Patent: September 6, 2016
    Assignee: TAKATA CORPORATION
    Inventors: Teruhiko Hiruta, Kimihiro Koshikawa
  • Patent number: 9340177
    Abstract: In an airbag, an airbag main body is formed into a bag so as to comprise at least a front panel and a rear panel in an inflated and deployed state, vent holes are formed on the rear panel, vent covers that open and close the vent holes are attached to an outer surface of the rear panel, patch members are attached to the vent covers, and opening degrees of the vent holes are regulated by the vent covers and the patch members inflating in cooperation using a portion of the pressurized gas supplied to the interior of the airbag main body when the airbag main body inflates and deploys.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 10, 2013
    Date of Patent: May 17, 2016
    Assignee: TAKATA CORPORATION
    Inventors: Teruhiko Hiruta, Kimihiro Koshikawa
  • Patent number: 9333939
    Abstract: Provided are an airbag, an airbag unit, and a vent hole open/close control method that facilitate control of opening and closing of a vent hole, and suppress an increase in weight and cost of the airbag unit vent hole. The airbag 1 includes a vent hole 4, an open/close device 5 configured to open and close the vent hole 4, and a stretch tether 6 stretchable in stages and connected to the open/close device 5 and an airbag component. The stretch tether 6 assumes, depending on an expansion and unfolding status of the airbag 1, a first stage including transition from a slack state to a tense state, a second stage including stretching to a predetermined length while maintaining the tense state, and a third stage including being slackened when the driver contacts the airbag 1. The open/close device 5 maintains the vent hole 4 in the open state in the first stage, maintains the vent hole 4 in the closed state in the second stage, and shifts the vent hole 4 to the open state in the third stage.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 21, 2013
    Date of Patent: May 10, 2016
    Assignee: TAKATA CORPORATION
    Inventors: Kimihiro Koshikawa, Yoshiki Murakami
  • Publication number: 20150266447
    Abstract: An airbag comprises an airbag main body formed into a bag by a front panel and a rear panel, a vent hole formed on the rear panel, a vent cover that is attached to an outer surface of the rear panel and opens and closes the vent hole, a tether provided on the vent cover, a vent patch attached to an inner surface of the rear panel, and a tether cover attached to the inner surface of the rear panel, overlapping the vent patch, wherein: the tether is pulled from a slit formed near the vent hole of the rear panel into the interior of the airbag main body and then inserted through an area between the vent patch and the tether cover.
    Type: Application
    Filed: September 10, 2013
    Publication date: September 24, 2015
    Applicant: Takata Corporation
    Inventors: Teruhiko Hiruta, Kimihiro Koshikawa
  • Publication number: 20150239421
    Abstract: In an airbag, an airbag main body is formed into a bag so as to comprise at least a front panel and a rear panel in an inflated and deployed state, vent holes are formed on the rear panel, vent covers that open and close the vent holes are attached to an outer surface of the rear panel, patch members are attached to the vent covers, and opening degrees of the vent holes are regulated by the vent covers and the patch members inflating in cooperation using a portion of the pressurized gas supplied to the interior of the airbag main body when the airbag main body inflates and deploys.
    Type: Application
    Filed: September 10, 2013
    Publication date: August 27, 2015
    Applicant: Takata Corporation
    Inventors: Teruhiko Hiruta, Kimihiro Koshikawa
  • Patent number: 9027963
    Abstract: A tension member for an airbag, and an airbag device are provided in each of which the tensile force is controlled continuously with a simple configuration. An airbag device includes an airbag that is normally folded and is inflated and deployed in a case of an emergency, an inflator for supplying gas into the airbag, a retainer for retaining the airbag and the inflator, and a tension member that controls a shape or a function of the airbag by using tension. The tension member for an airbag includes two end portions connected to respective portions of the airbag that are movable relative to each other when the airbag is inflated and deployed, a widened portion provided between the two end portions, and a breaking section provided in the widened portion in such a manner as to extend in a direction of widening of the widened portion and configured to break depending on a magnitude of tension applied between the two end portions.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 27, 2012
    Date of Patent: May 12, 2015
    Assignee: Takata Corporation
    Inventors: Yoshiki Murakami, Kimihiro Koshikawa
  • Publication number: 20150042082
    Abstract: Provided are an airbag, an airbag unit, and a vent hole open/close control method that facilitate control of opening and closing of a vent hole, and suppress an increase in weight and cost of the airbag unit vent hole. The airbag 1 includes a vent hole 4, an open/close device 5 configured to open and close the vent hole 4, and a stretch tether 6 stretchable in stages and connected to the open/close device 5 and an airbag component. The stretch tether 6 assumes, depending on an expansion and unfolding status of the airbag 1, a first stage including transition from a slack state to a tense state, a second stage including stretching to a predetermined length while maintaining the tense state, and a third stage including being slackened when the driver contacts the airbag 1. The open/close device 5 maintains the vent hole 4 in the open state in the first stage, maintains the vent hole 4 in the closed state in the second stage, and shifts the vent hole 4 to the open state in the third stage.
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 21, 2013
    Publication date: February 12, 2015
    Applicant: Takata Corporation
    Inventors: Kimihiro Koshikawa, Yoshiki Murakami
  • Publication number: 20140191497
    Abstract: A tension member for an airbag, and an airbag device are provided in each of which the tensile force is controlled continuously with a simple configuration. An airbag device includes an airbag that is normally folded and is inflated and deployed in a case of an emergency, an inflator for supplying gas into the airbag, a retainer for retaining the airbag and the inflator, and a tension member that controls a shape or a function of the airbag by using tension. The tension member for an airbag includes two end portions connected to respective portions of the airbag that are movable relative to each other when the airbag is inflated and deployed, a widened portion provided between the two end portions, and a breaking section provided in the widened portion in such a manner as to extend in a direction of widening of the widened portion and configured to break depending on a magnitude of tension applied between the two end portions.
    Type: Application
    Filed: July 27, 2012
    Publication date: July 10, 2014
    Inventors: Yoshiki Murakami, Kimihiro Koshikawa
  • Patent number: 7789417
    Abstract: An occupant restraining device that can maintain the internal pressure of a bag at a high level is provided. In one form, a bag has its left and right ends both provided with stationary sections that are fixed to a seat pan. The stationary sections have therebetween a gas chamber that is inflated as a result of gas entering from an inflator. The bag is made into the form of a pouch by stacking an upper panel and a lower panel one on top of the other, which are to respectively define an upper half and a lower half of an outer periphery surface of the bag in an inflated state, and then bonding and sewing these panels together along the edges thereof. Specifically, the bonding of these panels together along the edges thereof involves the use of elastic adhesive having a stretchability of 200% or more, for example, between 200% and 400%.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 23, 2006
    Date of Patent: September 7, 2010
    Assignee: Takata Corporation
    Inventors: Hiromichi Yoshikawa, Kimihiro Koshikawa
  • Patent number: 7708306
    Abstract: An occupant restraining device is disclosed, in which stress applied to a stitch section of a sewn bag can be dispersed at the time of inflation of the bag. In one form, the device includes an inflatable bag disposed above a seat pan with the bag being capable of pushing a front portion of a seat cushion from below, and an inflator (gas generator) for inflating the bag. Weave directions of panels are biased with respect to longitudinal stitch lines by about 45°. Accordingly, stress applied to a stitch section by the lines can be dispersed at the time of inflation of the bag.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 23, 2006
    Date of Patent: May 4, 2010
    Assignee: Takata Corporation
    Inventors: Hiromichi Yoshikawa, Kimihiro Koshikawa
  • Publication number: 20090206582
    Abstract: A passenger constraining apparatus configured to limit the amount of upward inflation of a seat bag is provided. A passenger constraining apparatus 10 includes a seat bag 12 extending in the lateral width direction of a seat, and being inflatable so as to push a seat cushion from below, a retainer 11 installed on a seat pan 1, an inner bag 13 arranged in the seat bag 12, and an inflator 14 for inflating the seat bag 12 and the inner bag 13. The inner bag 13 is connected at the lower portion thereof with the retainer 11, and the upper portion thereof is connected to the upper portion of the seat bag 12.
    Type: Application
    Filed: October 26, 2006
    Publication date: August 20, 2009
    Applicant: TAKATA CORPORATION
    Inventors: Masayoshi Kumagai, Hiromichi Yoshikawa, Kimihiro Koshikawa
  • Publication number: 20090121457
    Abstract: An occupant restraining device 10, in which stress applied to a stitch section of a sewn bag can be dispersed at the time of inflation of the bag, includes an inflatable bag 12 disposed above a seat pan 8 and capable of pushing a front portion of a seat cushion from below, and an inflator (gas generator) 13 for inflating the bag 12. Weave directions of panels 16 and 17 are biased with respect to longitudinal stitch lines 20N by about 45°. Accordingly, stress applied to a stitch section by the lines 20N can be dispersed at the time of inflation of the bag 12.
    Type: Application
    Filed: October 23, 2006
    Publication date: May 14, 2009
    Applicant: TAKATA CORPORATION
    Inventors: Hiromichi Yoshikawa, Kimihiro Koshikawa
  • Publication number: 20090096198
    Abstract: An occupant restraining device that can maintain the internal pressure of a bag at a high level is provided. A bag 12 has its left and right ends both provided with stationary sections 12a and 12a that are fixed to a seat pan 8. The stationary sections 12a and 12a have therebetween a gas chamber 15 that is inflated as a result of gas entering from an inflator 13. The bag 12 is made into the form of a pouch by stacking an upper panel 16 and a lower panel 17 one on top of the other, which are to respectively define an upper half and a lower half of an outer periphery surface of the bag 12 in an inflated state, and then bonding and sewing these panels together along the edges thereof. Specifically, the bonding of these panels together along the edges thereof involves the use of elastic adhesive 19 having a stretchability of 200% or more, for example, between 200% and 400%.
    Type: Application
    Filed: October 23, 2006
    Publication date: April 16, 2009
    Applicant: TAKATA CORPORATION
    Inventors: Hiromichi Yoshikawa, Kimihiro Koshikawa
  • Publication number: 20090045606
    Abstract: A passenger restraint apparatus 10 in which a seat bag is inflated stepwise includes a seat bag 12 extending in the right-left width direction of a seat and configured to be inflated so as to push a seat cushion from below, an inner bag 13 provided in the seat bag 12, and an inflator 14 that inflates the seat bag 12 and the inner bag 13. The inner bag 13 extends in the right-left width direction of the seat in the seat bag 12, and the inflator 14 is provided in the inner bag 13 so that the longitudinal direction thereof coincides with the longitudinal direction of the inner bag 13. Gas outlets 17 are provided in an upper surface of the inner bag 13. Through the gas outlets 17, gas in the inner bag 13 is discharged upward into the seat bag 12.
    Type: Application
    Filed: October 23, 2006
    Publication date: February 19, 2009
    Applicant: TAKATA CORPORATION
    Inventors: Hiromichi Yoshikawa, Kimihiro Koshikawa
  • Publication number: 20060175880
    Abstract: An occupant protection device is provided in which a bag is inflated smoothly without interfering with a horizontal member, such as a seat spring. In one form, the occupant protection device includes a seat pan bridged between front portions of side frames of a seat; a bag disposed on the seat pan; and a gas generator for inflating the bag. The bag extends in the left-right direction of the seat pan and has its opposite ends linked with the seat pan via respective anchors. A posterior portion of a guide cloth is wrapped around one of spring components of a seat spring disposed directly behind the bag. An anterior portion of the guide cloth extends below the bag and is connected to a wrapping member. During an inflation process of the bag, the guide cloth guides the bag so that the bag is inflated upward smoothly without entering a space below the seat spring.
    Type: Application
    Filed: January 25, 2006
    Publication date: August 10, 2006
    Applicant: Takata Corporation
    Inventors: Teruhiko Hiruta, Kimihiro Koshikawa